How To Make 550 Paracord Bracelets Using A Single Length Of Cordage

So how do you make paracord bracelets out of a single length of 550 cord and why would you want to ?

Well, in my mind there are 2 reasons why you would need, or want to learn how to make a 550 cord bracelet. And be more inclined to use a single length of cord, rather than 2 separate pieces as shown in many video tutorials you can watch on Youtube.

Firstly, lets look at why you would need a 550 parachord bracelet...

As we all know, any bushcrafter worth his salt, will carry some form of paracord in his or her pack. The uses for paracord are endless and here are just a few for starters :

1. Tarp/Basha Ridgeline
2. Tarp/Basha Guy lines
3. Bow Drill Set (Bow String)
4. Securing Items To Rucksack
5. Securing Debris Shelter Framework
6. Repairs To Broken Straps, Bootlaces etc.

I could go on, but you get the idea and have no doubt already been shouting out other ideas (Please include them in any comments you may leave).

So lets imagine you have your paracord in your pack and you have used it to setup your tarp ridgline, along with some guy lines. But later on in the day your bootlace snaps or you decide to have a go at the bow drill...

"Damn It ! No More Paracord"

You can see where I'm going with this cant you... If you were wearing a bracelet with 550 paracord, problem solved. Simply remove your bracelet, untie the cord and away you go.

Wearing the bracelet has got you out of a sticky situation, which is what surviving is all about. Getting through challenging situations with what you have on you or can find around you.

In this example it was just to repair a bootlace or try your hand at the bow drill. But you never know when it could be used in a more serious situation. You may HAVE to create fire, to keep warm or cook a meal. You may HAVE to fashion some sort of splint on an injured person.

With this still in mind, it brings me onto why you should use a single length of paracord.

You have no idea when or for what you are going to need that paracord which is around your wrist. And likewise you have no idea what length of cord you are going to require to get you out of that sticky situation. So it makes sense to have the longest piece of paracord you can possibly have built into your bracelet.

If the bracelet is made up of 2 pieces, as is commonly demonstrated in a lot of video tutorials, you may find that your cord is just a couple of inches short for what you need to complete your task, which would be a great shame. And could potentially be the difference of creating a strong and rigid debris shelter or one that may collapse when you need it most.

I'm talking extremes here, but you see my point. Why have 2 shorter lengths of cord when you could have one long length which can be cut down to size, if required. The 550 paracord bracelet that I carry contains 2.5m of cord, which is a reasonable amount of cordage for a lot of tasks you may find yourself needing to carry out.

I generally keep the paracord complete, when making my bracelets i.e I leave all the inner strands intact, rather than removing them. Reason for this being, my bracelets are for practical use, not just to look nice.

If you want to make a bracelet, just to look good, by all means remove the inner strands, as it makes the bracelet more comfortable on your wrist.

There are also different buckle (or fastening) options. I use the contoured buckles, which are curved and shape to your wrist better. But the straight versions are fine and are more readily available. Some buckles even have a small emergency whistle built in, which is a great addition to have.

If you don't want to use a plastic buckle or cant get your hands on any, simply use a loop and knot method, which is equally as good as a means of fastening the bracelet to your wrist.

The stitch or weave used to create the bracelet is called the Cobra Stitch (Weave) and once learnt is really easy to do and you will be rattling these bracelets off in no time.

To create a more striking pattern, use 2 different colours of cord. Yes, I know this means using 2 lengths of cord, but this is aimed at the more fashion conscious bushcrafters... LOL

The Cobra Stitch is a really easy skill to learn and once mastered, allows you to create other projects that you may find usefull when bushcrafting or short of something to do on those rainy days.

These projects are great for kids too and I have already taught my 7 year old how to make key rings and bracelets for her friends at school.

If you would like to learn how to make a 550 paracord bracelet and how much cord you will require, feel free to watch my video tutorial below.


If you find the tutorial usefull, I would be interested to hear how you got on and maybe see some of your photos of your creations.

Niteize Figure 9 Rope Tightener Review

 

Recently purchased a pair of Nite Ize Figure Nine rope tensioners, which I intended to use for setting up a no-knot ridge line system, in conjunction with my tarp or basha. This is my review...

"My name is Mick from JesterBushcraft and I am addicted to gadgets"... There, I've said it...

I must confess, ever since I saw James Bond for the first time, I have been a big fan of gadgets. And gadgets in the bushcraft/outdoor world are plentiful, some good and some not. So when I came across the Figure 9 Rope Tensioners from Nite Ize, I was interested to learn how they performed.

As they were only a couple of pound (£) each, I took the plunge and bought a pair from the well known online auction site. My idea would be to use one of the Figure nine's at either end of my 550 paracord ridgeline, making a no-knot system, rather than the Evenk knot/Taut line hitch combo.

When I received the package in the post, I was quite impressed to see how small the Figure 9's actually were. Measuring just 40mm x 30mm and weighing in at a meagre 3.5g each.

They were also well packaged with clear instructions on the inside of the packaging, giving you an example of 2 different ways you can use the Figure 9 (Loop System & Fixed End). You also get a little promotional leaflet, highlighting some of the other Nite Ize products in their range, like carabiners, torches and key chain accessories etc.

 

The Figure 9 is made of aluminium and the load limit is 50lbs (22.5Kg) and will accept cord/rope thickness of 2mm (1/16") to 5mm (3/16"). All the load limit and cord sizes are etched onto the Figure 9 itself so you will never forget the gadgets limitations. Plus there are simple step by step instructions on how to use it, on the reverse of the Figure 9. But to be honest, they are very straight forward to use, as you will see in my video later on in the post. There are larger versions of this product, which will accept larger size rope, should you require it. And they also do a carabiner version, which is basically the same but with a carabiner style clip rather than the enclosed ring.

Rather than explain my experiences in text, you may be interested to watch the video below, which shows me demoing the Figure 9 out in the field along with my British army basha. I do mention in the video that this particular no-knot system would come into its own in the winter time, when we are more likely to be wearing big gloves or mittens, which make tieing knots more difficult.



I intend to use this system for my tarp/basha setup, whenever I go out into the woodland, from now on and am sure it will serve me well.

As a quick and easy rope tensioner, this is one gadget I will be keeping and hopefully using for some time.

Handy Hammock - The Worlds Lightest Self Supporting Hammock Setup

Every Once In A While A New Product Appears On The Market That Makes You Think "Wow, That's Clever" And This Free Standing, Lightweight, Collapsible Hammock Ticks All The Boxes.

 

I was recently given the opportunity to field test and review a new portable hammock, that is completely self supporting and doesn't require the need for any tree's, which is ideal if you want to relax in comfort on a beach or in the garden.

British Design And Manufacturer...
The British company behind this ingenious hammock design is Handy Hammocks and have spent 20 years perfecting the idea of how to make a hammock stand up on its own two feet (literally !)

With hammock in hand, weighing in at just 1.53kg and all nicely contained in its drawstring bag, I set off for my local woodland hoping to learn how to set up a hammock with no trees.

I wanted to see how easily I could complete my hammock setup, straight from the bag. So I purposely refrained from checking the hammock components, prior to coming out. But I did allow myself a quick 5 minute look at the full colour instruction booklet.

So, once I had found my spot (clear of any tree's) I emptied the contents and started to follow the instructions. I have to say the instructions were a lot clearer the second time I completed the hammock set up, but were never the less fairly straight forward to follow.

Lightest Self Supporting Hammock In The World...
The first thing you notice about the hammock design, is the quality of the individual components. Like the ingenious hammock supports or struts which, in effect, form the hammock stand. These are made from aircraft grade zinc alloy, making this the lightest self supporting hammock in the world.

There is no guess work in setting up the Handy Hammock, thanks to the simple but clever idea of using base plates, connected with cord. Simply place the base plates on the ground with the cord stretched between the two and secure using the anchor pins.

  
Each high impact Nylon moulded anchor plate (Of which there are 4) are cleverly secured using 3 anchor pins, creating a strong fixing point for the four corner guy lines.

Then assemble the two struts, which is as quick and easy as putting up an umbrella. Insert the ends of the struts into the base plates and hang your hammock on the other ends.

Climb in and relax, free of any overhanging "widow maker" branches.

My initial setup, whilst referring to the instruction booklet and making the odd mistake, took me just under 20 minutes, straight from the bag.

However, on only my second attempt, I halved that time and set up in under 10 minutes.

Handy Hammock Details

Weight : 1.53Kg
Supports Up To 125Kg
Manufactured From Aircraft Grade Zinc Alloy With Kevlar Bracing Cords & 2.5 Dyneema Guy Lines.

When I first got into the Handy Hammock, I was to say the least, a little apprehensive, but climbing in and out of the hammock is the same as you would do with any normal setup. And I have to say was very comfortable, both in the sitting and horizontal position.

The hammock itself has good width to it, allowing you to position yourself on a diagonal for a more comfy lay.

Ideal For The Beach
This style of hammock design is perfect for using on the beach, but would require the addition of special beach anchor pins which are 600mm in length rather than the 300mm pins which come as standard with the hammock kits. This hammock would also work well in anybodies garden, where lack of suspension points are an issue.

This forward thinking hammock company are also planning to launch additional products, which will allow the "Handy Hammocker" to tailor their setup to whatever requirements they may have. Innovative add-ons such as a canopy system, heavier-duty hammocks, integrated sleeping bag, mosi-net, stowage system, extra guy sets (for marshland) and so on.

I know this particular form of hammock suspension is not going to be for everybody, as the hardened bushcrafter or backpacker likes to use the conventional setup using two trees to hang their traditional hammock from.

But I still feel that the Handy Hammock will have it's place in the market, especially for people on holiday who like to spend time on the beach or anybody who likes lounging about in the garden, as a more comfortable (and fun) alternative to the lounger or deckchair. Not only that, if you are a hill walker and want a novel way to chill out when you reach your destination, why not try the Handy Hammock. I guarantee you will have people queuing up to ask you about it, or even asking you to have a sit in it.

Hammock In A Bag...
The whole hammock setup, suspension, supports and all (hammock in a bag) are compact and light enough to be carried in a suitcase or rucksack, when traveling or walking in the hills. Which makes the Handy Hammock a great piece of kit for anybody wanting a fun and comfy way to relax when venturing outdoors.

If you have a decking area or balcony at your home, the anchor base plates can be permanently fixed using appropriate fixings, allowing you to setup your Handy Hammock in super quick time, whenever you feel the need to relax.

As I mentioned earlier, the Handy Hammock is relatively new to the market and the designers have big plans to improve on the design (if possible), the packaging and range of additional products. Making this a versatile, fun and quality hammock suspension system for young and old, serious outdoors people and those who just like to relax in style.

Learn More...

Please feel free to visit their website www.HandyHammock.co.uk where you can watch a fun (but informative) cartoon video, that explains the basic details of the hammock. You can also see my review of the handy hammock in the video below, which also includes a 40% discount code, valid until the end of October 2012... Don't Miss Out !


I really like my Handy Hammock and look forward to taking it on holiday with us or just relaxing in the garden, regardless of whether there is somewhere to hang a hammock !

My DIY Tarp Setup No Knot Ridgeline System

Learn How To Make A Tarp Setup Using A DIY No Knot Ridgeline System

 

Anybody who has ever been wild camping and slept in a hammock or a bivi bag, may well have also used some form of tarp or basha to protect themselves from the elements.

This type of shelter, in it's simplest form is usually a ridgeline made of paracord, suspended between two trees on which a tarp or basha is hung to create an "A" frame type shelter, with the addition of two or more guy points.

There are endless ways to secure a ridgeline to your chosen tree's, but probably the most common method is to use an Evenk Knot (or hitch) at one end and a Taut Line Hitch at the other, which creates the tension on the ridgeline.

On a recent wild camp I was setting up my ridgeline in the rain and the light wasn't brilliant due to the dense tree cover, but continued to set up my ridgeline using the method mention above. I had no problems with the Evenk Knot, but when I cam to tie the Taut Line Hitch, for some reason, I was struggling to get the desired tension on the ridgeline.

I probably had three attempts to get the tension as I wanted it and actually ended up just wrapping the paracord around a lower branch and tieing it off there, as it was more convenient and I was getting soaked and needed the tarp up quickly.

Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but on this occasion I struggled a little. Which got me thinking about an alternative tarp ridgeline system, that didn't require the need for any knots.

The more I looked into this, the more I began to realise that other people were not always comfortable with tieing knots or just preferred a no nonsense system that was quick and easy. Something you could maybe setup in the dark or in bad weather conditions (wearing gloves for example).

I then began to search for a solution and came across a range of products under the banner of Dutchware. These are basically innovative ideas that solve the problems of setting up a tarp, hammock, ridgeline etc. The guy who has more or less come up with these ideas is an experienced traveller and decided to design minimalist hiking gear tackling the issues we have talked about earlier in the post.

I became fascinated with these products and was really impressed with the simplicity of the way they worked. This guy has put a lot of thought into these products and I advise you to check them out as they are very good. To learn more about Dutchware visit their website.

However, having limited funds and the challenge of another DIY project, I decided that I would try and make my own version.

And so, I came up with the SPOOKSTA-RP1

Why the SPOOKSTA... well when I first designed it and cut the thing out, I dropped it on the floor and when I went to pick it up it landed as you see it in the photo. And it just reminded me of a spooky face and for whatever reason "oooh Spooksta !" was the first thing that came into my head.

The Spooksta basically works on the same principal as the Dutchware Tarp Flyz, but isn't made of titanium and costs a lot less... Much Less !!!

The SPOOKSTA-RP1 is the first version I came up with and as you will see from my video demo works relatively well. I incorporated the Spooksta with a similar hook (though much simpler in design) that creates the completed no knot ridgeline system.


The beauty of this system is that it creates a void area by each tree suspension point, which allows your chosen hammock suspension to hang freely between the ridgeline setup, avoiding any un-necessary rubbing of hammock suspension and tarp ridgeline, which may in time damage your kit.

This system can also be permanently attached to your tarp and stored in a "snake skin" or stuff bag, ready for when you need to setup your tarp.

I have no intention of producing the SPOOKSTA-RP1 on a commercial basis as I feel it is too similar to the Dutchware system,plus if you can afford it, you may as well go for Dutch's products as I do believe they are a great range of products.

I hope you have enjoyed this post on my DIY No Knot Tarp Ridgline System. And if it has inspired you to have a go at creating your own, please let me know, as I would be interested to hear your view on the subject.

P.S... Halloween is just around the corner, so beware of the SPOOKSTA !!!!! Ooooohhhhh !!!!!

The Jacklore Handmade Bushcraft Knife

The Jacklore Is A Handmade Bushcraft Knife, Produced In The UK, That Has Recently Appeared And Is Taking The Bushcraft Community By Storm...

In this post we take a look at the British made bushcraft knife that everyone is talking about, the guy behind the handcrafted knife and why it performs so well no matter what type of bushcrafting task you ask the Jacklore to take on.

Experience English Craftsmanship



About three years ago...
A guy called Sandy appeared on Youtube (Youtube Channel G0VQW), producing videos about one of his passions, which was amateur radio.

Then, a year later...
Sandy started adding a couple of videos relating to the outdoors, camping equipment and eventually nights out under canvas or in a hammock.

These outdoor videos, then started to become more frequent and the Bushcraft community were starting to take notice. Sandy (Or Bivouac Jack as he was now calling himself) would take an interest in a bushcraft skill, like the bowdrill, master the technique, then produce more videos on how to perfect the skill, so that other bushcrafters could benefit from the mistakes he made and how he overcame them.

Approximately three months ago...
Sandy published a video on a homemade bushcraft knife that he had produced in his garage at home. This was to become the start of the now well known and sort after Jacklore. In those three short months Sandy (And the Jacklore) have come a long way, to the point where he is now producing some fantastic handmade bushcraft knives that are being dispatched all over the world.

As more and more people are becoming aware of the Jacklore and how good they are, Sandy is receiving all manner of materials in the post for making the knife handle scales, to be fitted to the ever increasing number of Jacklore orders, that Sandy is getting on a daily basis.

Due to the interest and demand for the Jacklore a dedicated website was setup, which is still in its early stages and continually being updated (as and when Sandy gets any spare moments in his busy schedule). A seperate youtube channel has also been introduced, again dedicated solely to the Jacklore knife.



I was lucky enough to receive one of the earlier models of Jacklore. And the knife even in just a month or so, has come even further, in the way it looks, the finish quality and the addition of an optional hand stitched leather sheath.

For me a bushcraft knife is a working knife and should be up to performing any bushcraft related task, such as striking a ferro rod, feather sticking, hearth board preparation (starting the drill hole with the point of your knife) and carving.

The Jacklore is proficient in all of these tasks, but also withstands tougher challenges such as battening and chopping. And after all this punishment can still keep its edge and shave the hairs from your arm.



This is due to the quality of the blade and the way it has been carefully heat treated, giving the blade a Rockwell hardness of approximately 59. The blade and tang (all one piece) are made from 4mm 01 tool steel, with a 22 degree Scandinavian bevel.

Each Jacklore knife is based on the same design (more or less), but when complete the Jacklore is very much an individual knife, especially if the customer has requested their own specific material for the handle scales.

Non more so in my case, as I requested that the scales were made from a piece of mahogany that came from an old 1954 ex-admiralty boat that I used to own for many years. I sent Sandy the piece of mahogany and he used this wood in the making of my Jacklore, giving it a very personal touch (for me anyway). I will now always carry the memories of my time on that boat whenever I carry my Jacklore knife.

Sandy has now produced many Jacklore knives and they are improving in quality each time. Performance wise they are exceptional and looks wise... Well you make up your own mind ! This is my own personal Jacklore knife and one of the early models.

If you would like to learn more about the Jacklore bushcraft knife, watch other independent reviews and see how the Jacklore has evolved, please visit their website www.Jacklore.com

Check Your Firesteel - Is The Fire Steel Striker Any Good ?

We often read in Bushcraft Forums, "What Is The Best....." and fire steels are no exception. So what is the best fire steel ?



Any bushcrafter worth his salt carries some form of firestarter, usually in the form of a ferrocerium rod (Or ferro rod) and striker, but which is the best one to use.

I recently uploaded a video to my Youtube channel - JesterBushcraft, looking at the different firesteels that I personally own and how they differ in quality, compared to price.

Whilst shooting this video I made a little discovery, regarding one of my firesteels in particular. It was a Magfire firesteel that I picked up on the well known auction site, for very little money. But having used it, found the spark to be... well, rubbish to be quite honest !

But during the making of the video, I decided to try a different striker with the Magfire and produced some dramatic differences in its performance. Now call me naive, but it had never even crossed my mind that it would be the striker that was at fault. I just assumed it was the quality of the ferro rod.

Consequently the Magfire was thrown in the bottom of a box, only to be used as a last resort should my other firesteels (Light My Fire & Firestarter) ever get lost or break.

But in a dramatic turn around the Magfire has now taken pride of place in a new firestarting kit I have put together, which includes a cheap multitool. The multitool has a saw blade with a great square edge on it and works brilliantly as a striker for my Magfire firesteel, producing a much MUCH larger spark.

The photo (left) demonstrates the type of spark you should be getting from your ferro rod.


So, I have learnt a number of valuable lessons here :

1. Don't assume that your kit is faulty or works badly... It may just be a small aspect of the kit that is inadequate. Change the weak link and you may well end up with a great piece of kit.

2. Always test your kit before taking it out into the field. If it isnt satisfactory, change it, modify it, so it works how you would expect it to work.

So when asked the question "What is the best firesteel" ? I would always say, that the firesteel is only as good as the striker used to create the spark.



Bushcraft is all about getting out there and trying new skills, learning from your mistakes and discovering new (more efficient) ways of surviving the great outdoors.

Thank you for your continued support and please do comment or add any advice you may have.

New Section Added To My Blog - Personal Gear & Recommended Kit

I have just added a new section to my blog, which basically highlights the kit I like to use and my reasons for chosing them.



I am always being asked, "What kind of stove do you use ?" or "What is your favourite knife to carry when out on the trail ?", so I decided to add this new page, so people can see exactly what I carry and why.

As I say it is a relatively new page, so it is still being populated... So bare with me.

I have included photos, descriptions and associated videos, demonstrating the kit out in the field.

If you are looking to purchase any of this kit, I have also listed my kit recommendations and where you can purchase them from.

You can view this new page My Personal Gear & Kit Recommendations - HERE or simply use the navigation bar on the right hand side.